Now that you've received your financial aid offer, you have a few things to consider. We've gathered some helpful information for you. Check it out, and contact us if you have questions.
Step 1: Understand Your Offer
Your financial aid offer comes by mail (if you are an incoming freshman) or email (if you are a current student) and is also available through your MyIUP account. You can find it in MyIUP:
In the MyIUP portal:
- Log in to MyIUP. Go to your Dashboard and locate the Student Dashboard card.
- Click on the Open Student Dashboard button.
- Select Financial Aid Information, then select Award Offer.
It's important that you understand your offer completely. If your family encounters circumstances leading to a reduction in income after filing the FAFSA, you can contact our office to request a Special Circumstances Appeal form.
Did You File Your FAFSA?
If you haven't filed your Free Application for Financial Aid (FAFSA) yet, your offer won't include several major types of aid you could be eligible for. If you didn't submit the FAFSA yet, see our website for directions for filing your FAFSA. After you submit it, check your MyIUP for any changes to your aid offer.
Learn How the Types of Aid Are Different
You'll want to understand each type of financial aid you've been offered, so we've included some helpful pages. You can also find information on the US Department of Education's Federal Student Aid website. See our Financial Aid Glossary to help you understand frequently used financial aid terms and common acronyms.
Step 2: Know the Rules—You Might Have to Maintain Full-time Credits or a Certain Grade Point Average to Keep Your Aid
Bear in mind that loans, grants, and scholarships might come with conditions. To keep your aid, you might have to maintain a certain grade point average or keep your schedule at 12 or more credits each semester. Be sure you understand your obligations for each type of aid in your offer.
Step 3: Compare Your Aid to Your Costs
Use the tuition and fees, housing, and dining cost charts to determine your cost of attendance. Don't forget to subtract any scholarships you've received. If your financial aid offer does not fully cover your costs, you and your parents might consider a federal Parent PLUS loan, Alternative Private student loans or the Installment Payment Plan.
Step 4: It's an Offer—You Decide How Much Aid You Accept
Consider Your Future Payments
You won't need to pay back grants and scholarships, but you will need to repay loans. You are not obligated to accept a loan in your offer. You can choose to decline or reduce your loan(s). Carefully consider your future obligations for repaying your loans. Know when and how the loans are scheduled to be repaid before you accept them.
Financial Aid Adjustments
- You can make your own aid adjustments by using MyIUP until September.
- Please visit the Financial Aid Adjustment page for instructions on how to accept, reinstate, reduce, or decline your loans and Federal work-study.
Step 5: For Direct Student Loans—Don't Forget the Master Promissory Note and Entrance Counseling
If this is the first year you will receive a Federal Direct Student Loan, you must complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN), Entrance Loan Counseling, and the Annual Student Loan Acknowledgement at studentaid.gov, so that the loan funds can be disbursed to your IUP account. In mid-July, parents can apply for the Parent Plus Loan on this page, too.
Step 6: What to Do If You Receive a Scholarship from a Non-IUP Source
If you receive a scholarship from a source other than IUP, you must notify the Financial Aid Office. Please complete the Financial Aid Adjustment Form and return the document to the Financial Aid Office in Clark Hall. (See contact information below.)
You should also complete this form if you decide not to enroll at IUP or need to make adjustments to your financial aid offer.
Step 7: If We Ask for Verification Documents, Respond ASAP
We might need additional information from you about your FAFSA. If that's the case, we will contact you for verification. If you hear from us regarding your FAFSA, please respond as soon as possible to prevent any delays in receiving your financial aid.
Please do not send in documents unless requested by our office.
